Michael Longhurst's first season at the Donmar to feature plays by Alice Birch and Caryl Churchill

Michael Longhurst has announced his first season as artistic director of London’s Donmar Warehouse, which includes plays by Alice Birch, Caryl Churchill, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and David Greig.

The first production in the season will be a revival of Greig’s Europe, directed by Longhurst, with casting to include Faye Marsay, Kevork Malikyan, Billy Howle, Stephen Wight and Shane Zaza.

Following this will be the UK premiere of Appropriate by Jacobs-Jenkins, writer of An Octoroon, which will be directed by Ola Ince and will star Monica Dolan.

Other highlights in the season includes the full-length premiere of new play [Blank] by Birch, directed by Maria Aberg.

[Blank] is a co-production with Clean Break Theatre to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary, and will feature an all-female cast of 15, including women who have had experience of the criminal justice system, and an all-female creative team.

The season also includes a revival of Churchill’s Far Away, directed Lyndsey Turner, and the UK premiere of Teenage Dick by US playwright Mike Lew, which is a modern take on Richard III. Actor Daniel Monks will play Richard.

Also featured in the season is the previously announced Writing Wrongs, which is a project inspired by artist Ai Weiwei’s flag celebrating universal human rights. It brings together writers including Zainab Hasan, Sabrina Mahfouz, Natasha Simone, Monsay Whitney and Alexandra Wood with school and community groups to create a series of filmed monologues.

Alongside the season announcement, Longhurst has appointed director Roy Alexander Weise as his first artistic associate at the Donmar. The venue’s resident assistant director scheme will also continue, with the appointment of Thomas Bailey and Blythe Stewart, who will each assist on three productions during the next year.

The season at a glance:

Europe by David Greig

Directed by Michael Longhurst
June 20 to August 10, with press night on June 27

Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Directed by Ola Ince
August 16 to October 5, with press night on August 22

[Blank] by Alice Birch

Directed by Maria Aberg
October 11 to November 30, with press night on October 17

Teenage Dick by Mike Lew

Directed by Michael Longhurst
December 6 to February 1, 2020, with press night on December 12

Far Away by Caryl Churchill

Directed by Lyndsey Turner
February 6 to March 21, with press night to be announced

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